Hair drier



June 4, 1935. P. SANTURELLO HAIR DRIER Filed Jan. 24, 1931 INVENTOR. Pe/zz" .Sanzzzrz/Zo.

A T; ORNEY B Y i255 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mm DRIER Peter Santurello, Columbus, Ohio Application January 24, 1931, Serial No. 511,050

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a hair drier. It has to do more particularly with that type of hair drier wherein a hood is used for partially enclosing the head,'this hood being supplied with drying fluid to effect drying of the hair.

In the prior art, hair driers of this type have been used but practically all of them have possessed certain undesirable features and have been lacking in certain desirable features. For example, the hoods of the type ordinarily utilized have been uncomfortable. For one thing, it has ordinarily been necessary to dispose the hood upon the head of the person whose hair is being dried in such a manner as to subject the ears and a portion of the face to the drying fluid currents. Likewise, no means had been provided for controlling the application of 'the drying fluid and applying it to the areas of the head particularly requiring treatment.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a hair drier embodying a hood and such supplemental features as to render possible efficient control of the application of the drying fluid that this heating fluid may be applied particularly to those areas of the hair needing treatment in proper proportion to effect drying of the hair without unnecessary discomfort to the person being operated upon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hair drier which is controllable at will to meet different positions arising in the treatment of different heads of hair.

Various other objects of my invention will appear as this description progresses.

My invention preferably contemplates the provision of a hood shaped to sub'tantially conform in contour to the average head of hair and provided with an inner perforated wall.-

This inner perforated wall cooperates with the outer wall to form a chamber into which the drying medium'is to be introduced for the ultimate passage thereof through the perforations in the inner wall and into contact with the hair. Furthermore, valve structure is provided which is adequate either to permit the application of the drying medium to 'all portions of the hair simultaneously or to those portions thereof requiring special treatment.

My invention also preferably contemplates the provision of a means for directing a portion or all of the drying medium downwardly from the hood onto the hair which may be disposed on the back of the neck of a person being treated. Furthermore, my hood structure is preferably of such shape that the edges thereof will roughly follow the lower line of the hair upon the normal head and will, at the same time, avoid enclosing or completely enclosing the ears of the person being operated upon.

Various other important features of my in- 5 vention will appear during the following description of the drawing showing the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein similar, characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my hood structure with associated parts. Figure 2'is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure l. 1 I Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of my hood structure.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is'a detail in'section of a portion of my hood structure.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of my need structure in application to the head of the person being operated upon.

In the drawing, the preferred embodiment of my invention is shown as comprising a hood I which has the same general contour as the average scalp and which is preferably provided with a rearwardly extending tubular portion 2 integrally formed upon the hood I. This tubular portion 2 may be of a structure to fit over a tubular casing 3 which is designed to contain heating units and a motor-driven fan, as will be subsequently explained. The casing 3 is preferably secured to the tubular portion 2 by means of screws or some other suitable provision. This casing is preferably pivotally supported by means of pins 5 fitting in the upstanding arms of a yoke member 6. This yoke member may be carried by a standard 1 preferably mounted upon wheels so that it may be readily transported to any desired position,

The hood I is preferably provided with an integral wall 8 that is spaced from the outer wall of the hood to form a chamber 9 which extends over practically the entire inner area of the hood structure; This inner wall 8 is provided with a plurality of perforations l0. It should likewise be noted that the hood member I with its inner wall and with the chamber formed between this inner wall and the outer wall of the hood is so shaped that its front edge I extends, downwardly onto the forehead for a short distance, as at H. Likewise, the forward edge of this hood structure extends downwardly in front of the ears, as at T2. However, it is cut pin away as at I 3 so that it does not cover the ears, at least, to any material extent.

As shown in Figure 4, the chamber 9 which is formed by the cooperation of the inner wall and the outer wall of the hood is closed at all of its edges. On the lower rear surface of the hood I is provided a duct [4 whose outlet is so positioned that it may deliver a current of drying medium onto the hair disposed upon theneck of the person being treated. The inlet for this duct I4 is shown at 29 as being in the lower side of the tubular member 2. This inlet is under the control of a valve which will be subsequently described.

Since it is usually desirable to'utilize a heating fluid such as hot air for the drying medium, the hood is preferably provided with a strip of bakelite extending around the edges of the inner wall of the hood as at l5. This will serve to protect adequately the user from undue discomfort which might arise from direct contact of the inner wall of the hood, which is usually of metal, with the head. This feature is desirable even though the drying fluid is not a heating fluid.

' That portion of the chamber of the hood which is normally positioned above the top of the head may receive the drying fluid and deliver it to the hair upon the'top of the head and the forehead without interference. However, the flow of the drying medium into this portion of the chamber may be reduced or entirely cut off by means of a valve structure which is formed by the provision of a stationary arcuate member l6 and a complemental arcuate member I! which is slidable therealong by means of a pin l8 projecting through a slot l9 in the outer wall of the hood. These arcuate members l6 and I! are provided with openings 20 and 2| which may be caused to fully register in order to permit full flow of the drying medium into this forward upper portion of the chamber of the hood, which may be caused to partially register to reduce this flow or which may be moved entirely out pf alignment to entirely shut off this flow..

Extending rearwardly from the inner wall 8 of the hood is a tubular member 22 which is disposed substantially in concentric relation with the tubular portion 2 of the outer wall of the hood. Surrounding this tubular member 22 and substantially at thejuncture of the tubular portion 2 with the body portion l of the hood, is a disk valve or damper construction comprising an annular member 23 with a plurality of cut out portions 24 formed therein and a superimposed annular member 25 likewise provided with a plurality of cut out portions 26. The annular member 23 is preferably immovable while the annular member 25 is rotatable through the medium of a flnger 21 projecting through a slot 28 in the tubular portion 2. The drying medium is adapted to be forced forwardly through this damper or valve structure when it is opened. It may be maintained fully opened to permit a full flow of the drying medium forwardly into the chamber 9, it may be partially opened to permit a limited flow of the drying medium forwardly therethrough or it may be entirely closed to shut off the flow of the drying medium into the chamber 9.

As indicated above, the supplementary passage It for directing the drying fluid downwardly onto the hair on the back of the neck preferably leads from'the interior of the tubular portion sired extent.

2 at points in the rear of the dampers 23 and 25, the inlet being designated 29, as indicated. This inlet is preferably under the control of a slide valve 30 which is provided with a pin 30a (Figure 6) extending through a slot 301) in the tubular wall 2 'so that this valvemay be readily manipulated. This slide valve 30 is so mounted as to permit it to be opened to any desired extent to allow the drying medium to pass downwardly through the duct l4 and onto the hair on the back of the neck. Obviously, the valve 30 may be closed so that no drying medium will be permitted to pass downwardly through this duct M.

The tubular member 22 preferably projects rearwardly through the tubular portion 2 and into the tubular casing 3. In that portion thereof which is within. the tubular casing 3, this tubular member carries upon the outer surface thereof, an electric heating unit that may be generally designated 3|. This heating element may be rendered, manually, either operative or inoperative but it is preferably under the control of a thermostat 32 which will operate in a manner' readily understood to automatically render this heating element inoperativewhen the temperature of the drying medium exceeds a predetermined degree.

The tubular member 22 is open at its rear end and directly behind this rear end is a motordriven fan 33 which, when air is used as a drying medium, is operative to draw the air inwardly through the front of the hood around the head being treated and to then force it forwardly around the exterior of the tubular member 22 and either into the chamber 9 or through the supplementary channel H to effect the drying action.

The tubular casing 3 is further provided with an opening 34 under the control of a slide valve 35 which is provided with an operating pin 35a extending through a slot 35b. This structure may be utilized to relieve the pressure within the hood and casing when such pressure becomes excessive by opening the slide valve to any de- It will be seen from this description that I have provided a hair drier wherein the air may be drawn rearwardly through the front of the hood and through the rearwardly projecting tube which is surrrounded by a heating unit and may then be projected forwardly through the outer tubular structure toward the hair to be dried. In its forward movement, all of the heating air may be delivered into the cham-' ber 9 and thence applied to the hair on all parts of the head. If desired, the pin l8 may be manipulated to shut off entirely the flow of the drying medium to the front upper portion of the'head or to reduce this flow. Likewise, if desired, the valve structure 23, 25 may be shut off entirely and the valve 3!! opened to direct all of the heating medium downwardly onto the hair on the back of the neck. If desired, the valve 23, 25 may be wholly or partially open at the same time the valve 30 is wholly or partially open so that the drying medium may be simultaneously delivered to the hair upon the head and to the hair upon the back of the neck, being proportionately applied, as desired.

One of the advantages of my invention consists in the fact that the drying medium may be directly delivered to any portion of the hair desired. Furthermore, the shape of the hood is such and the arrangement of the apertures in the inner walls of the hood are such that the drying medium may be delivered to the lower portions of the hair more directly and adequately than has hitherto been possible. This is particularly advantageous, owing to the fact that the water or various forms of finger-waving fluids always have a tendency to seek their lowest levels with the result that, in prior devices, the hair on top of the head tends to dry out more rapidly than the hair at the nape of the neck, the temples and the center point of the forehead.

With my device the drying medium, either hot or cold, may be delivered to all parts of,

the scalp simultaneously or it may be directed in greater proportion to those portions of the hair which tend to dry more slowly. Likewise, my device permits of the application of the drying medium to the hair where it is thickest so as to minimize the discomiorts which might otherwise arise from the application of the drying medium to those portions of the hair which are thinnest. My device even renders possible the protection of such portions of the head as may be practically devoid of hair, while at the same time supplying the. drying medium in adequate quantities to those portions of the scalp fully covered by the hair.

It will also be apparent that I have provided a hood which supplies the drying medium to the hair without directing it upon the ears of the person being treated. Thus, the ears are left free from direct exposure to either hot or cold air while the hood is in operation.

In other words, it will be apparent that I have provided a hair drier which is so shaped that the person being operated upon is practically free from discomfort while, since the drying medium may be fully controlled in application, the length of time required for the drying operation is very greatly reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hair drier comprising a substantially continuous hood adapted to encompass the head in close proximity to the scalp and the hair to be. treated, said hood consisting of an outer imperforate wall and an inner perforated wall suitably spaced from said wall so as to form a chamber for the circulation of a drying medium therethrough, said chamber being closed at all of its edges, a casing secured to said hood and in communication with said chamber, means for creating a flow of drying medium from said casing through said chamber, and valve means disposed within said chamber and dividing said chamber into an upper portion corresponding to the top of the scalp and a lower portion corresponding to the back of the scalp, said valve means regulating the flow of the drying medium through both of said portions or through only said lower portion. 2. A hair drier comprising a substantiall continuous hood adapted to encompass the head in close proximity to the scalp and the hair to be treated, said hood consisting of an outer imperforate wall and an inner perforated wall suitably spaced from said wall so as to form a chamber for the circulation of a drying medium therethrough, said chamber being closed at all of its edges, a casing secured to said hood and in communication with said chamber, means for creating. a fiow of drying medium from said casing through said chamber, means for controlling the flow of the drying medium from said easing into said chamber, and valve means disposed within said chamber and dividing said chamber into an upper portion corresponding to the top of the scalp and'a lower portion corresponding to the back of the scalp, said valve means regulating the flow of drying medium through both of said portions or through only said lower portion. 3. A hair drier comprising a substantially continuous hood adapted to encompass the head in close proximity to the scalp and the hair to be treated, said hood consisting of an outer imperforate wall and an inner perforated wall suitably spaced from said wall so as to forma chamber for the circulation of a drying medium therethrough, said chamber being closed at all of its edges, a casing secured to said hood and in communication with said chamber, a duct adjacent the lower rear portion of said hood and in communication with said casing for introducing drying medium onto the hair disposed upon the neck, means for creating a flow of drying medium from said casing through said chamber, means for controlling the flow of the drying medium from said easing into said chamber, valve means disposed within said chamber and dividing said chamber-into an upper portion corresponding to the top of the scalp and a lower portion corresponding to the back of the scalp, said valve means regulating the flow of the drying medium through both of said portions or through only said lower portion, and means for regulating the flow of the drying medium from said casing through said duct.

PETER SAN'I'URELID. 

